These tvOS 26 Features Are Only Available on Newer Apple TV Models - MacRumors
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These tvOS 26 Features Are Only Available on Newer Apple TV Models

tvOS 26 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models, but some of the new features are only available on newer models.

tvOS 26
The new Liquid Glass design with shimmery app icons and see-through elements is only visible on the Apple TV 4K (2nd generation) and Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).

tvOS 26 Liquid Glass
tvOS 26 takes Apple Music Sing a step further by allowing you to use your iPhone as a wireless microphone, with your voice amplified through the TV's speakers. However, this functionality is limited to the latest Apple TV 4K (3rd generation).

apple music sing tvos26

tvOS 26 is currently available as a developer beta. The update will be released later this year.

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Top Rated Comments

13 months ago
Considering the 4K gen 1 is 8 years old and it sported an A10 chip, I think it's remarkable it gets tvOS 26 at all, let alone every single feature.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AusMness Avatar
13 months ago

Considering the 4K gen 1 is 8 years old and it sported an A10 chip, I think it's remarkable it gets tvOS 26 at all, let alone every single feature.
The Apple TV HD / 4th gen with an A8 is also still supported!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EBone12355 Avatar
13 months ago
This, and the Snoopy screensavers from the last tvOS version.
Apple, I'm ready to buy a new model, just waiting for you to release one!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
13 months ago

but will somehow be unable to run smoothly on a flagship phone from three years ago, I guarantee you.
Ahh the good old internet guarantee, supplied by someone who has never experienced what they’re guaranteeing.

Let me just supplant that, with a fact.

Beta one of ios works very smoothly on an iPhone 13 Pro, even though it’s the first dev beta.

Been using it on my main phone since about an hour after it became available. Aside the regular beta issues, I can gladly tell you that you’re wrong, even at this early stage it does run smoothly on flagship phones even from more than 3 years ago.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
13 months ago
Good to know. The older models that are not getting these features are quite old. At least they are getting the update which is great.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dumastudetto Avatar
13 months ago

But still, there are persistent rumors of a new version of the Apple TV box coming this fall, now powered by the A18 SoC. That's why I will wait until September to see what Apple will release for a next-generation Apple TV.
Waiting is never a good idea. Buy now, you can always upgrade later.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)